Corangamite Shire boosts funds for community groups

By
JARROD WOOLLEY

CORANGAMITE Shire has allocated more than $100,000 to a long list of community groups as part of the 2014-15 community and facilities grants funding program.

The Noorat show is one of the community groups to receive a grant from Corangamite Shire Council.

CORANGAMITE Shire has allocated more than $100,000 to a long list of community groups as part of the 2014-15 community and facilities grants funding program.

Councillors approved a list of 43 community organisation grants, and 40 facility grants at last week’s council meeting totalling $100,131.

The program’s purpose is to provide financial assistance to committees of management and community groups located within the shire for facility improvements, workshops equipment purchase or development of new community, leisure or recreational programs.

In a report presented to councillors last Tuesday night, recreation development officer Lucy Vasey said the community grants category provided funding up to $1000 per project on a dollar-for-dollar basis while the facility grants category provides funding up to and exceeding $2000 per project on a dollar-for-dollar basis.

“In the community grants category, 51 submissions were received, whilst 58 grant submissions were received under the facilities grant category,” she wrote.

“Forty-six per cent of applications came from sporting clubs, with 4 per cent coming from scout/guides groups, 18 per cent relating to recreation reserves, 18 per cent relating to halls and 14 per cent relating to other organisations.

“The total funds requested from eligible applicants was $125,418.”

Councillors voted to allocate $36,719 to the community grants program and $63,412 to the facilities grant program.